i32 THE FAMILY OF TUK DFS.MACIUlN'At:. 



tr. ac. (tr". ac). 



anc2.3 (rut^). 



fauc22.) 

 Loc. Coast of France. (Mus. L. B.). 

 This species , and the following still more so , are typical 

 examples of Desmacidons. The large amount of „keratode 

 fibre" makes the Sponge very flexible , even in the dried 

 state. The form resembles that of Isodktya palmata Bwk. 

 (see lower down). The Leyden Museum possesses only one 

 dried specimen, of the above described Sponge; it is in 

 good condition. The skeleton is formed by very stout 

 spicules , which are nearly all imbedded in strong fibre. 

 The fibres form a regular compact network: radiating 

 bundles , placed close to each other , being united together 

 by others perpendicular to them. It thus takes the ap- 

 pearance of a combination of ladders. On the surface there 

 are numerous , slightly raised oscula (?) between these innu- 

 merable pores (?). The acerate spicules, which are bent in 

 the middle , prevail. They are larger than the fusiformi- 

 acerate and acerate ones. The anchors are not very common. 

 The shafts and the hooks are often flexuous. 

 8. * Jfesinacidott, elusticu uov. spec. 

 Spic. ac2 bent in the middle. 



ac2. f. 



tr°. ac. f. (very large). 



tr2. 



? tr. ac. sp. (rare). 



anc^'.S. 



rut^. 

 Loc. Cape of Good Hope. (Mus. L. B.) 

 As was already mentioned the fibre is very strong , ren- 

 dering the Sponge flexible. The form also resembles that 

 of Isodictjja palmata Bwk. On the surface numerous little 

 pores (?) and greater oscula (?) are visible, the latter 

 being placed in groups, like sieves. The large sub-fusi- 

 form acerate spicules have about four or five times tlie 

 length of the ac'^ , tr'^ , tr. ac. sp. etc. The spinous spi- 



Notes Iroiii the Leycleii IVIiisieum, "Vol. II. 



